Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are scheduled to visit Ceuta on October 13, marking the king's first visit to the city since his coronation in 2014. The trip follows a recent migration crisis at the Ceuta border and highlights ongoing territorial disputes with Morocco over Ceuta and Melilla. While Spain views these cities as integral parts of its territory, Morocco claims them based on their geographical location and historical ties, seeing them as occupied territories. The city's dual naming—Ceuta in Spanish and Sebta/Sabta in Arabic—reflects its complex history spanning various Islamic dynasties before being captured by Portugal in 1415 and eventually coming under Spanish control after the Iberian Union period ended.
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Story summary
Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are scheduled to visit Ceuta on October 13, followed by a trip to Melilla the next day. This is the king's first visit to these cities since ascending the throne in 2014, coming after a major migration crisis at the Ceuta border in July. The visit underscores the ongoing territorial dispute between Spain and Morocco over Ceuta and Melilla, which both nations claim as part of their territory.
The city is also known as Sabta (or Sebta) in Arabic, highlighting its historical significance and cultural heritage. Historically, the city was under various Islamic empires' control, including the Idrisid, Umayyad, Taifa, Almoravid, Almohad, and Marinid periods. Spain officially recognizes the name Sabta as equivalent to Ceuta, reflecting the city's complex history and its ties to both Spanish and Arabic cultures.
Written for “Ceuta Dispute” on 2026-10-12,
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Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are due to visit Ceuta on October 13 and Melilla the following day, in Felipe’s first visit to either city as king since he ascended the throne in 2014.
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he → visit → 2014
The trip comes after a major migration crisis at the Ceuta border in July and as the long-running dispute between Spain and Morocco over the two cities on the North African coast remains unresolved.
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dispute → come → coast
Spain considers Ceuta and Melilla part of its territory, while Morocco regards both cities and several smaller Spanish-held territories in North Africa as part of its own territory.
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Morocco → consider → territory
The city that sits on the southern side of the Strait of Gibraltar also has different names in Spanish and Arabic.
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that → sit → Spanish
In Arabic, it is Sabta, commonly written as Sebta in Latin script.
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it → write → script
So why does the same city have two names?
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city → have → names
And how did a city on the North African coast come under Spanish sovereignty?
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city → come → sovereignty
The city was known as Sabta in Arabic.
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city → know → Arabic
Spain’s Ministry of Culture identifies Sabta with present-day Ceuta and traces its history through successive periods of Idrisid, Umayyad, Taifa, Almoravid, Almohad and Marinid rule.
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Ministry → identify → rule
The Spanish form, Ceuta, developed from earlier forms of the name.
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form → develop → name
Who controlled Ceuta before Spain?
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Who → control → Spain
Ceuta passed through several political and dynastic systems in the Maghreb and al-Andalus.
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Ceuta → pass → Maghreb
Under the Idrisid dynasty, the city was in the hands of the Banu Isam before being taken by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Rahman III in 931, bringing it into the political sphere of al-Andalus.
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city → take → Andalus
In the 11th century, Ceuta became linked to the Taifa of Malaga.
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Ceuta → link → Malaga
It later came under the Almoravids and Almohads.
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It → come → Almoravids
From the beginning of the 14th century, it became part of the Marinid sphere with periods when other local dynasties held power.
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dynasties → become → power
That changed in 1415.
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That → change → 1415
How did Ceuta become Portuguese?
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Ceuta → become → ?
On August 21, 1415, Portuguese forces led by King John I captured Ceuta.
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forces → lead → Ceuta
The Portuguese conquest brought an end to more than seven centuries of Muslim rule in Ceuta.
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conquest → bring → Ceuta
Ceuta’s own cultural heritage authority dates Muslim rule from 709 to the Portuguese conquest in 1415.
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authority → date → 1415
Ceuta remained Portuguese for more than two centuries.
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Ceuta → remain → centuries
Portugal and Spain were then ruled by the same monarchy from 1580 to 1640.
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Portugal → rule → 1640
When Portugal restored its independence in 1640, Ceuta remained under the Spanish monarchy rather than returning to Portuguese rule.
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Ceuta → restore → rule
The 1668 Treaty of Lisbon, which formally recognised Portuguese independence, left Ceuta in Spanish hands.
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which → recognise → hands
That is how Ceuta came under Spanish sovereignty.
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Ceuta → come → sovereignty
Why does Morocco claim Ceuta?
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Morocco → claim → Ceuta
Morocco’s argument is rooted in the city’s history and geography.
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argument → root → history
Ceuta lies on the North African coast, surrounded by Morocco on its landward side.
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Ceuta → lie → side
Morocco has claimed Ceuta and Melilla since gaining independence in 1956 and regards the two cities as occupied Moroccan territories.
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Morocco → claim → territories
Spain takes the opposite position.
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Spain → take → position
Its Statute of Autonomy describes Ceuta as an integral part of the Spanish nation and gives the city its own system of self-government.
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Statute → describe → government
The dispute, therefore, is not about who administers Ceuta.
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who → administer → Ceuta
Spain does.
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Spain → do → ?
Morocco says Ceuta should form part of Moroccan territory.
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Ceuta → say → territory
Spain says its sovereignty over the city is established and Ceuta is part of Spain.
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Ceuta → say → Spain
Neither side has accepted the other’s position.
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side → accept → position
Why doesn’t history settle the dispute?
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history → settle → dispute
Because the two sides interpret that history differently.
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sides → interpret → history
Morocco points to Ceuta’s long history within Muslim political systems in the Maghreb and its location on the North African coast.
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Morocco → point → coast
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